Garage Roof Repair

Common signs include water staining on the ceiling inside the garage, visible cracks or splits in the felt, felt that has lifted or pulled away from the edges, blistering on the roof surface, damp or musty smells, or soft spots when you press on the roof from above. If you notice any of these it is worth getting the roof inspected before the damage spreads.

In many cases a repair is enough, particularly if the damage is in one area and the rest of the roof is still in reasonable condition. If the felt or membrane has failed across the whole surface, the timber deck has rotted significantly, or the roof has been repaired several times already, a full replacement is usually the better option long term. We will give you an honest assessment of which is needed.

Cost depends on the size of the garage, the material the roof is covered with, the extent of the damage and whether any timber needs replacing underneath. A small localised repair will cost significantly less than a full recovering job. We provide free quotes so you know exactly what the work will cost before any agreement is made.

Most single garage roof repairs are completed within a day. Larger or more complex jobs, such as those requiring timber replacement or a full recovering, may take two to three days. We will give you a clear timeline before work starts so you can plan around it.

The material used will depend on what the roof is currently covered with and the condition it is in. Felt is the most common covering on older garage roofs. EPDM rubber and GRP fibreglass are the two most popular modern alternatives. We work with all three and can advise on which is best for your situation.

Water does not always enter through an obvious crack or hole. It often gets in around the edges where the felt has lifted slightly, through failed flashings where the roof meets a wall, or where seams have opened up over time. The point where the water appears on the ceiling is frequently not the same as where it is getting in. We trace leaks back to the source before carrying out any repair.

Minor temporary patching is possible but rarely lasts. Flat roof materials need to be applied correctly to bond and seal properly, particularly in cold weather. A poorly applied repair can make the situation worse by trapping moisture underneath. A professional repair done properly will last considerably longer and save money compared to repeated DIY attempts.

In most cases repairing a garage roof is classed as maintenance and does not require planning permission. If you are changing the structure or height of the roof, or if your property is in a conservation area or is listed, there may be restrictions. We can advise if anything is likely to require approval based on the work needed.

A well-executed repair using quality materials should last many years. A patch repair on an otherwise sound felt roof can add five to ten years to its life. If we replace the covering with EPDM or GRP fibreglass, you can expect 20 to 30 years of performance with basic maintenance. The age and condition of the underlying deck is also a factor.

If the deck boards are soft, spongy or crumbling, they need to be replaced before a new covering can go down. Laying new felt or membrane over a rotten deck will not hold and the new covering will fail quickly. We remove the affected boards, replace them with new timber of the same thickness and depth, and then apply the new covering on top.

Yes. A garage roof can be letting in moisture long before it shows up as a drip inside. By the time water is visible on the ceiling the deck may already have been absorbing moisture for some time. A periodic inspection, particularly on an older felt roof, catches problems early and keeps repair costs lower.

Yes. We carry out repairs throughout the year including winter months. We use materials and adhesives suited to lower temperatures and monitor conditions before starting work. Frosty or icy surfaces require extra care but do not prevent repairs from being carried out. We will always let you know if conditions on the day mean the start needs to be pushed back slightly.

In most cases yes. If the damp inside the garage is caused by water coming through the roof, a proper repair will stop the source and allow the structure to dry out. If there are other contributing factors such as condensation or rising damp, we will flag those during the inspection so you know the full picture.

We check guttering and downpipes on every job as a matter of course. If a blocked or broken gutter is contributing to the roof problem we will address it as part of the repair. Any additional guttering work is always discussed and agreed with you before it is carried out.